Self-closing extension device



Feb. 23, I932. G. u. MEYER 1,846,688

SELF CLOSING EXTENSION DEVICE Filed April 8, 1931 w IN V EN TOR.

6190/1922 FL/%ye/- Patented Feb. 23, 1932 urrsn stares earner orifice GEORGE U. MEYER, OF PROVIDENCE, BI-IODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR 'IO PROVIDENCE STOCK COIYIPANY, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND SELF-CLOSING EXTENSION DEVICE Application filed April 8,

My present invention relates to extension devices for bracelets, watch straps, and the like, and particularly pertains to extension devices formed of a plurality of nested leaves.

It has been found that the locking of the extension device on the wrist after the extended bracelet or Watch strap has been passed over the hand entails certain diiiiculties, as only one hand is available for bringing the extension plates into locking position.

In addition, the thin, narrow extension plates used for ladies bracelets are easily buckled the wrong Way, thus resulting in frequent breakage of the delicate hinge sections.

The principal object of my invention is therefore to provide a resilient arrangement for urging the extension plates towards nes ed position, thus facilitating the locking of the plates and at the same time preventing swinging of the plates in the wrong direction.

The resilient urging of the plates towards nesting position necessitatesadesign of adjusting means for fitting thebracelet to the wrist that will interpose a minimum interference to the nesting operation. Another object of my invention is therefore to provide a length adjustment that does not project into the nesting space. 1V ith these and other objects and advantageous features in view, the invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following and in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the novel extension in locked position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, in extended position; i

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view, in extended position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the action of the folding springs;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a thin model extension device, showing a modified arrangement of the folding springs;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view 1931. Serial No. 528,678.

through the cover member, showing the which are mounted on the hinge sections of the plates so as to resist swinging of the plates in the wrong direction and to urge the plates towards each other, thus simplifying the locking of the extension device and at the same time preventing breakage of the hinge portions of thin plates by inadvertent outward swinging; and I have devised a length adjustment that forms part of theextension device and does not project into the nesting space; and the following is a detailed description of specific extension constructions which embody the principles of myinvention. Referring to the drawings, the extension device 10 is used to extendibly connect the ends of a bracelet or watch strap band 11. The extension device includes a cover member 12, having side walls 13, means such as a length adjusting device 1 1 being provided atone end of thecover member to receive one end of the bracelet or watch strap. The other end of the cover member is adapted to hingedly receive an intermediate extension plate 15, which has spaced hinge sections 16, 17 mounted on a hinge pin 18 having its ends mounted in suitable openings in the side walls of the cover member. A coil spring 19 is mounted on the pin 18 between the spaced hinge sections 16, 17, with its extended ends 20, 21 respectively engaging the cover memher and the extension plate 15 to resiliently urge the two towards contacting positionfl A second intermediate plate 22, has spaced hinge portions 23 at one end in which a pivot pin 24 is mounted, a central hinge portion 25 I hingedly mounted on the center portion of the pin 24:.

A third intermediate plate 26 has spaced;

hinge portions 27 in which a pivot pin 28 is mounted, the plate 22 also having spaced hinge portions 29 contiguous thereto and mounted on the pin 28 between the hinge portions 27. A coil spring 30 is mounted on the pin 28 between the hinge portions 29, and has its extended ends 31 engaging the two plates 22 and 26 to resiliently urge them together, as shown. in Figure 4.

An end plate 32 completes the specific extension device described, and has spaced hinge portions 33 in which a pivot pin 34 is mounted, a central hinge portion on the plate 26 being positioned between the hinge portions 33 in pivotal engagement with thepin 34;. The end plate 32 preferably has side walls 36 and means such as an end tubular portion 3? for receiving-'oneend of bracelet or watch strap 11, the side walls having indentations 38 for releasable locking engagement with cooperating indentations 39 in the side walls of the cover member, and the cover member having a finger tab or the like l0 to assist in releasing the'locking engagement.

The springs 19 and30 urge the intermediate plates together, these plates all being of less width than the end plate to nest therein, the side walls of the end plate nesting within the sidewalls of-the cover member. This construction thus facilitates locking, and preventsbackward swinging of the several plates Referringnow to Figures 6 and 7, the preferredlength adjustment includes a slotted adjustmentplate ll which has length adjustment slots 42 therethrough, the plate having spaced retaining fingers 43 which are received in suitable openings as in the side walls 13, the plate' 41 being spaced from the cover member to permit the passage of a depending lock finger 45 of an adjusting plate 46 there between. -The adjusting plate 46 has means such as'a tubular portion 47 to receive the other 'end of the bracelet or watch strap 11, and'is releasably heldin position by indentations-48 on' the side walls of the cover member which snap past'the side edges of the adjustingplate;

The specific extension device above described is' suitable for the larger size bracelets and watch straps, but is difficult to apply to thi'nynarrow bracelets and watch straps on account of the necessarily small width of the hingesections, such as shown for example, at Q'Tand 29 in-Figure 3. It is thei fore pre ferred to mount the coil springs, designated 49, 50 in Figure 5, onthe hin e pins mounted in the cover member51 and the end plate 52 of a narrow extension device, these springs urging the first and third intermediate plates 53, 545 towards the cover member and the end plate. Since this direction of the spring force pulls the free ends of the plates 53, 54 in the proper direction, the central intermediateplate'55 is also forced towards nesting position.

While I have'described specific structural embodiments of my invention, it is obvious that such changes in the relative arrangement, in the size of the parts, in the disposition and the mounting of the springs, as is found most suitable for different types of bracelets and watch straps may be made, without departure from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. ln an extension device, a cover member, band securing means at one end thereof, a plurality of hinged extension plates pivotally secured to the other end of the cover member and adapted to nest against said cover member, means comprising a plurality of springmeans mounted on alternate hinges for urging said extension plates into nested position, and means releasably locking said extension plates in nested position, the outermost extension plate having band securing means at the free end thereof.

2. In an extension device, a cover member, band securing means at one end thereof, a plurality of hinged extension plates pivotally secured to the other end of the cover member, and adapted to nest into said cover member, means comprising a plurality of spring neans mounted on alternate hinges for urging said extension plates into nested position, and means releasably locking the last extension plate to the cover member to retain the nested plates in nested position, the outermost extension plate having band securing ieans at the free end thereof.

3. In an extension device, a cover device having a transversely slotted portion, an adjusting plate having linger adjacent one end thereof selectively engageable with said slots to adjust the length of said extension device, means for releasably locking said adjusting plate in adjustedv position and adjacent said cover device, a plurality of extension plates hingedl-y connected to said cover device, and bracelet securing means on the free end of said extension plates and on the other end of said adjusting plate.

i. In an extension device, a cover member, an adjustment plate secured to said cover member and having plurality of transverse slots, an at justing plate having a finger adjacent one end ereof selectively engageable with said slots to adjust the len,

,ui of said extension device, meansforreleasablylocking said adjust ea plate in adjusted position and adjacent said cover device, a plurality of extension plates h'ngedly connected to said cover device, and bracelet securing means on the free end of said extension plates and on the other end of said adjusting plate.

In testimony whereof I aflii; my signature.

GEORGE U. MEYER. 

